After we've written a final draft of our essays, we go through them one more time to make sure we have spelled and punctuated everything correctly.

Are you a word wiz?

We have one question for you today, period. Which of the following do you think is another meaning of the word "punctuate"?

A. to edit carefully

B. to mark with symbols

C. to move slowly

D. to interrupt at intervals

Did you pick D? An exclamation point is in order for you! Another meaning of "punctuate" is "to interrupt at intervals," as in "The speech was punctuated with applause." "Punctuate" comes from the Latin word "punctus," meaning "point," the same word "point" comes from. Also from "punctus" is "punctual," meaning "acting or usually acting at an appointed time or at a regularly scheduled time," as in "The trains were punctual." "Puncture" is another word from "punctus." One meaning of "puncture" is "to make a hole with point," as in "A nail punctured the tire."